Hyundai i40 problems, reliability and years to avoid
If you are considering buying a used Hyundai i40, these are the common problems worth knowing about first. Our garage database tracks 2 known faults for this model, 1 of them rated high severity. Every one below is a repair bill a seller has good reason not to mention.
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Is the Hyundai i40 reliable?
The Hyundai i40 has 2 known faults in our database, 1 of them rated high severity. The most serious are engine (turbocharger failure caused by blocked oil feed pipes/strainers due to carbon buildup) and gearbox (the dual-clutch automatic offered with the 1.7 CRDi can shudder as it moves off). None of them makes the car a bad buy on its own; the risk is a seller who knows and says nothing.
That is a count of the faults we hold, not a reliability score. Popular cars get written about more, and a newer generation has had less time to show its faults.
Which Hyundai i40 years should you avoid?
No year is a write-off on its own. What matters is which serious faults a given year and engine can have, and whether the car in front of you has had them fixed.
Years and engines with a serious known fault
2010 to 2018, 1.6 & 1.7 CRDi Diesel: turbocharger failure caused by blocked oil feed pipes/strainers due to carbon
Each one is set out in full below, with the symptoms, the typical mileage and a rough repair cost.
Generation 1 of 12 known faults · 14 owner reports · 5 good notes
Hyundai i40 VF (2011 to 2019) problems
Engine/EmissionsHigh severity📝 Editorial
Turbocharger failure caused by blocked oil feed pipes/strainers due to carbon buildup from infrequent oil changes
Rough guide
£800-1500
Typical symptoms
loud whining or 'siren' noise from turbo
loss of power
blue smoke from exhaust
Affected vehicles
Engines:
1.6 & 1.7 CRDi Diesel
Typical mileage:
70000-120000 miles
🔍 We have a specific pre-purchase check for this faultCheck an advert →
The dual-clutch automatic offered with the 1.7 CRDi can shudder as it moves off, and the clutches inside can wear out. An owner of a 2016 i40 1.7 CRDi automatic complained of a juddering DCT.
Rough guide
£Unknown
Typical symptoms
shudder through the car when setting off in first
hesitation when pulling out of a junction
gearbox dropping into limp mode
Affected vehicles
Engines:
1.7 CRDi 141 with the DCT dual-clutch automatic
Typical mileage:
Unknown miles
🔍 We have a specific pre-purchase check for this faultCheck an advert →
What owners report on the VF
14 single reports, unconfirmed
One owner each, in their own words rewritten as a line, and not counted in our risk scoring. A fault joins the list above once a second report or an editorial source backs it.
Engine · April 2019A 2015 i40 1.7 CRDi automatic experienced repeated stalling, occurring three times on main roads and a roundabout.
Electrics · October 2018The offside LED daytime running light system failed on a 2013 i40 Tourer, requiring a full headlight replacement eight months after the warranty expired.
Bodywork · October 2018Rust spots appeared around the panoramic roof of a 22-month-old 2016 Hyundai i40, which the dealer attributed to stone damage.
Electrics · April 2018The battery on an October 2015 Hyundai i40 ISG failed, costing £329 for a replacement, and the ISG system stopped working.
Gearbox and clutch · August 2017A 2011 Hyundai i40 with 45,000 miles experienced its 6-speed automatic transmission failing to engage reverse or hold neutral; a £3,000 repair was quoted.
Gearbox and clutch · May 2017A 2014 Hyundai i40 manual had increasing difficulty selecting first, second, and reverse gears, possibly due to clutch hydraulics or the dual-mass flywheel.
Gearbox and clutch · May 2017The DCT automatic transmission in a 2016 i40 1.7 CRDi diesel model developed a noticeable judder.
Brakes · June 2016The electromechanical parking brake on an i40 Tourer repeatedly stuck on while the car was in traffic.
Exhaust · January 2016A January 2015 i40 1.7 Tourer experienced repeated DPF active regeneration system malfunctions, causing smoke; the diesel pump was replaced twice.
Bodywork · April 2015Stone chips on the leading edge of the roof of a 2011 Hyundai i40 Tourer resulted in premature rusting.
Gearbox and clutch · August 2014Manual Hyundai i40 Tourers built in 2014 had poor gearchange and difficulty engaging gears, which a dealer attributed to a clutch design problem.
Gearbox and clutch · August 2014Manual Hyundai i40s built in 2014 had poor gearchange and difficulty engaging gears, which a dealer attributed to a clutch design problem.
Gearbox and clutch · August 2012A six-speed automatic transmission failed to allow selection of drive, neutral, or reverse from park.
Gearbox and clutch · August 2012A 6-speed DCT automatic transmission failed to allow selection of drive, neutral, or reverse from park.
What owners like about the VF
5 notes
The i40 achieved a Five-Star Euro NCAP Result, with high scores for adult and child occupant protection.
A full-sized spare wheel and tyre are supplied as standard equipment with the vehicle.
The car comes with a comprehensive five-year manufacturer warranty for peace of mind.
The Hyundai i40 model offers good value for money, making it an attractive option for buyers.
The car is provided with a five-year warranty as a standard feature.
Sellers rarely admit these faults outright
We track 5 specific phrases sellers use in adverts to soft-pedal these exact issues. Paste any Hyundai i40 advert and we check it in seconds.
Repair costs are typical UK ranges, not quotes. Actual cost depends on condition and garage.Data last verified: September 2026
Hyundai i40 buying questions
Which Hyundai i40 years should I avoid?
No Hyundai i40 year is a write-off, but the VF (2011 to 2019) carries the most serious faults: engine. Year matters less than whether the specific car has had the known fixes, so check the history for them.
What should I check when viewing a used Hyundai i40?
Ask the seller about the engine and gearbox faults on this page and whether they have been fixed, with invoices. On the test drive watch for loud whining or 'siren' noise from turbo and shudder through the car when setting off in first. Read the MOT history for repeat advisories, then paste the advert into the free check, which reads it against its known faults before you travel. Check a Hyundai i40 advert →
What is the real MPG of a Hyundai i40?
Owners report 45.7 mpg on average across the Hyundai i40 engines with data, about 81% of the official combined figure. The gap between official and real-world economy varies a lot by engine, so the Real MPG page lists every engine and generation separately, from 457 owner submissions. Hyundai i40 Real MPG by engine →
If you used to check the Honest John “Good & Bad” section before the site closed in 2026, this page is where that information now lives. We rebuilt the Hyundai i40 owner-report history from the archived Honest John dataset, added our own research, specialist and owner-club sources and DVSA recall data, and we keep it free. Each fault above is badged with its source. The same data feeds our free advert check, which reads a listing against every known fault for the exact engine and year.
Knowing what a Hyundai i40 goes wrong with is half of it. The rest is reading the advert and checking the car's history before you hand any money over.